RVP and ‘goal of the century’

Manchester United take on Robin van Persie’s Fenerbahce at Old Trafford this week – the scene of the Dutchman’s best-ever strike. Peter Smith looks back at that defining moment from 2013…

Sir Alex Ferguson described it as the “goal of the century”. In a recent vote, players who have scored 100 times in the Premier League named it the best strike in the past 25 years. For Van Persie, it remains his personal favourite.

The goal in question: Van Persie’s stunning second against Aston Villa in 2013, which sealed a 20th Premier League title for United.

The striker returns to Old Trafford – the scene of that goal – on Thursday, with current club Fenerbahce in the Europa League.

Much has changed for both United and the 33-year-old since his crashing volley struck the net on April 22, 2013. The talk of sustained success for both club and player in the aftermath didn’t materialise.

But, after a turbulent three years, both parties can reflect on a magical moment this week.

“What I like about that goal is the whole story that was behind it,” Van Persie said recently. And it’s quite a story.

After missing out on the Premier League title on goal difference to rivals Manchester City the previous year, United boss Ferguson was searching for a solution. “Of all the setbacks I endured, nothing compared to losing the League to City,” he later wrote in his autobiography.

That solution was the league’s top goalscorer, Van Persie. With his contract at Arsenal running down, Ferguson and United convinced Arsene Wenger to part ways with his captain for £24m. It was a move which Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp later described as “giving United the edge”.

In eight injury-hit years at Arsenal, the only silverware Van Persie got his hands on was the FA Cup, in 2005, and the Community Shield 12 months earlier. But in that 2012/13 season he set about firing United to the Premier League title.

By mid-February he’d scored 23 times across all competitions and propelled United to the summit, 12 points clear of second-placed City.

The striker then hit a dry patch, not scoring for two months, but United kept on winning and by the time Van Persie was back in his stride, with two in two against Stoke and West Ham, the club was on the brink of a 20th English title.

Struggling Aston Villa arrived at Old Trafford needing an unlikely result to boost their own survival hopes at the other end of the table. They …

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